The History of Providence (Alexander Carson)

Description

Alexander Carson lived in an age that was turning away from the revelation of God in Scripture. The dominant philosophy of the times sought to replace the knowledge of the personal, sovereign and provident God of Scripture with a 'more intelligent belief' in the impersonal laws of nature (which are, of course, nothing but the physical laws by which God usually conducts his government of the world). If God exists – and that was a big 'if' – then he is a God who is far removed from the events of every-day life.

But truth and Scripture teach that all physical laws have their effect from the immediate agency of God's almighty power. In his works of providence God preserves and governs all his creatures and all their actions. 'In him we live, and move, and have our being' (Acts 17:28).

Although Christians recognize this doctrine of Providence, they tend to overlook it in practice. In so doing they lose, in a great measure, that advantage which a constant and deep impression of this truth is calculated to give. In this book, Alexander Carson takes the reader through the Scriptures and points to instances of God's providence that will provide comfort for all true believers.

Table of Contents

Biographical Sketch of the Author xi

 Preface xiii

1 Abraham driven by famine into Egypt 1

2 Abraham’s victory over Chedorlaomer 5

3 Providence manifested in the fulfillment of prophecy Every step in the accomplishment of the prediction, with respect to the condition of the Israelites in Egypt, was conducted by the hand of an overruling Providence 6

4 Abraham sitting in the door of his tent 9

5 Provident restraints from evil 11

6 The ram caught by the horns in the thicket 12

7 Expulsion of Hagar from the house of Abraham 14

8 Isaac mocked by Ishmael 16

9 The Providence of God prospering the affairs of Abraham 17

10 Abraham informed about the family of his brother Nahor 18

11 Abraham’s purchase of the cave of Machpelah for a burying-ground 19

12 Success of Abraham’s servant in seeking a wife for his master’s son 21

13 The arrival of Rebekah at the time when Isaac was engaged in communion with God by meditation and prayer 25

14 The fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham with respect to Ishmael 26

15 Jacob’s purchase of the birthright 27

16 The annoyances of the man of God by the world, under the control of Providence 30

17 Transference of the blessing of Jacob 31

18 Jacob’s immediate meeting with Rachel on his approach to Haran 37

19 Jacob’s prosperity in the service of Laban 39

20 Jacob’s return to Canaan 40

21 Jacob’s meeting his brother Esau on his return from Syria 42

22 Cruelty of the sons of Jacob to the Shechemites 45

23 Jacob’s escape from the vengeance of the Canaanites, on the murder of the Shechemites by his sons 47

24 Reuben’s sin 49

25 The removal of Esau to Mount Seir 50

26 Judah’s secret sin manifested by Providence 51

27 The history of Joseph 52

28 Prosperity of Joseph in bondage 56

29 Joseph’s beauty 59

30 Character of Joseph taken away by false accusation 60

31 Circumstances may be misinterpreted, as well as facts may be forged 61

32 Imprisonment of the chief butler and chief baker 62

33 The chief butler remembered not Joseph 63

34 The same action ascribed to God in one sense, while in another it is the act of man 64

35 The policy of the king of Egypt to retain the children of Israel, the means of his losing them 65

36 Moses raised up by Providence as a deliverer to Israel 67

37 Plagues of Egypt 69

38 Qualification of Bezaleel and Aholiab for making the tabernacle 70

39 Readiness of the people to contribute for the making of the tabernacle 71

40 Request of the Israelites that Moses should receive for them the law from God 73

41 The hiding of the Israeli spies by Rahab 74

42 The punishment of Adoni-Bezek 77

43 The Kenites in Habit Canaan with Israel 78

44 The Israelites commanded to extirpate the Canaanites, yet some of them providentially preserved to prove Israel 79

45 The Midianites providentially invade and waste Israel on account of their sins 80

46 The dream of the Midianitish soldier 81

47 Jephthah’s vow 82

48 Samson married to a Philistine 83

49 Awful wickedness of the Benjamites 84

50 The history of Ruth 85

51 The people of Israel ask a king 86

52 Loss of the asses of Kish 87

53 Samuel’s delay in coming to Saul at Gilgal 88

54 David, as a type of Christ, brought by Providence into the field against Goliath 90

55 David’s preservation from Saul 91

56 Doeg present when David came to Ahimelech 92

57 David put in possession of the kingdom 93

58 Ill-treatment of the messengers of David by Hanun, king of the Ammonites 94

59 David’s scheme to hide his crime with respect to Bathsheba providentially defeated 95

60 Punishment of David’s crime with respect to Uriah providedntially executed 97

61 Ahithophel’s prudent advice providentially rejected by Absalom 98

62 Solomon’s decision with respect to the mother of the child 99

63 Rehoboam’s rejection of the old men’s counsel 100

64 The land of the Shunammite providentially restored 101

65 Jezebel eaten by dogs 103

66 Providential preservation of Jehoash 104

67 Captivity of Israel effected providentially 105

68 The book of the law found in the temple in the time of Josiah 106

69 Captivity of Judah 106

70 Glory and wealth of the kingdom of Israel in the time of Solomon 107

71 Disasters and miserable death of Jehoram 108

72 Wicked people—oppressive rulers 109

73 A way of return providentially opened to the Jews on the overthrow of the Babylonish empire by Cyrus 110

74 Obstacles in the way of the Jews, in building the temple, on their return to Jerusalem, providentially thrown in their way and removed 113

75 Book of Esther 114

76 Book of Job 115

77 Sennacherib sent by God against his people, yet punished for going 117

78 Destruction of Babylon 119

79 Destruction of Tire 120

80 Famine in Judah 121

81 Field of Hanameel provided for sale 122

82 Life of Jeremiah providedntially saved by Ebed-Melech 123

83 Capture and fate of Zedekiah 123

84 Preservation of Jeremiah and of Ebed-Melech in the capture of Jerusalem 124

85 The forgetting of his dream by Nebuchadnezzar provided 125

86 The lot fell upon Jonah 126

87 Jesus in a storm 137

88 The two Gergesene Demoniacs meet Jesus 139

89 The barren fig-tree blasted 140

90 The death of Christ providentially accomplished 141

91 Purchase of the Potter’s Field 142

92 Not this man, but Barabbas 143

93 Dream of Pilate’s wife 144

94 Jesus given up by Pilate 145

95 Adversity no evidence of providential disapproval 147

96 Appointment of a watch at the tomb of Jesus 150

97 Report of the soldiers that the disciples stole the body of Jesus 152

98 Christ crucified between two malefactors 154

99 Combination of the Pharisees and Herodians to ensnare Jesus 155

100 Jesus brought before Herod 156

101 Cross of Christ borne by Simon 157

102 Christ’s death by crucifixion 159

103 The title on the cross of Christ 161

104 Lots cast for the coat of Jesus 162

105 The legs of Jesus not broken 163

106 The disciples plucked the ears of corn on the Sabbath-day 164

107 Certain disciples minister to the Lord Jesus of their substance 165

108 The calling of Zacchaeus 166

109 The enemies of Jesus restrained from injuring him by fear of the people 167

110 Provident preservation of Peter when he smote the servant of the high priest 168

111 Provident circumstances leading Peter into the situation in which he denied his Master 169

112 Providential meeting of Jesus and the woman of Samaria 170

113 The man born blind 171

114 The sickness of Lazarus 173

115 Thomas not at the meeting of the disciples when Jesus appeared after his resurrection 175

116 The manner of the death of Christians adapted to glorify God 182

117 Population regulated by Providence 184

118 Dispersion of the church at Jerusalem, by the persecution on the death of Stephen 185

119 Tranquillity and prosperity of the churches on the conversion of Saul 189

120 Means of detecting Simon Magus 195

121 Herod eaten by worms 199

122 Contention between Paul and Barnabas 202

123 Paul protected by Gallio’s enlightened views of the duties of the magistrate’s office 204

124 Paul preserved by the Recorder of Ephesus 207

125 Fall of Eutychus from a window in the third loft, during the preaching of Paul at Troas 210

126 Preservation of Paul from the Jews in the temple 212

127 Assault on Paul in the temple providentially afforded him an opportunity of defending himself, and preaching the gospel to persons of the first distinction 214

128 Paul sent to Rome in a providential way 216

129 Providential character of the standard of the Christian religion 226

130 Hesitancy in receiving Paul by the church at Jerusalem 228

131 The incestuous man in the church at Corinth 229

132 Law-suits unbecoming between Christians 231

133 Abuse of the Lord’s Supper at Corinth 233

134 Collection in Greece for the poor saints at Jerusalem 234

135 Paul’s cloak left at Troas 235

136 Timothy advised by Paul to take a little wine for the sake of his health 238

137 Trophimus left sick at Miletum 239

138 Angels created to minister to the heirs of salvation 240

139 Christ the Sun of Righteousness 241

Product Details

Title: The History of Providence 

Author: Alexander Carson

Publisher: Banner of Truth

Pages: 264

Binding: Paperback

Size: 21.5 x 13.7 x 1.7 cm

ISBN: 9781848711754